Kidney and Urinary System Anatomy

Anatomy Introduction - Kidney

• Kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra are components of the urinary system
• Kidneys filter waste materials from the blood, a process that comes from every cell of the body
• Nephrons perform the blood-filtering process and produce urine
• Cortex contains the filtering units of the kidney
• The medulla contains pyramids and calyxes to drain urine
• Renal pelvis collects urine before transport to the ureter
• The ureter is a tube connecting the kidneys to the bladder
• The renal artery delivers blood from the aorta to the kidney
• Renal vein returns filtered blood to the heart
• An average adult produces six cups of urine per day
• Each kidney contains one million nephrons
• Kidneys are dark red due to being filled with blood
• Medulla is comprised of pyramids and calyxes
• Kidneys can be located on the back below the ribs

Anatomy Conclusion

• The bladder is a sac-like organ that stores urine until disposal
• The bladder can hold up to two cups of urine
• Smooth muscle surrounds the bladder
• Sphincter muscle keeps urine in
• The urethra is a tube-like structure that transports urine out of the body

Physiology Introduction

• The renal arteries transport blood to the kidneys
• Kidneys filter waste from water and nutrients in the blood
• Homeostasis is maintaining the internal environment of the body
• Sweat itself doesn't cool you off, evaporation does
• Every four minutes, one gallon of blood can be filtered which amounts to 425 gallons per day
• All blood is cleaned 327 times a day, assuming five liters of blood volume

Physiology Conclusion

• The bladder stores urine until it can be expelled from the body
• The bladder communicates with the brain via ascending nerve tracks, creating the sensation of "I'm full"
• The brain also communicates with the bladder via descending nerve tracks

Common Ailments Introduction

• Four common urinary system ailments include:
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Renal failure
  • Kidney stones
  • Glomerulonephritis

Urinary Tract Infections

• UTIs are bacterial infections occurring anywhere in the urinary tract, from the kidney to the urethra
• Antibiotics slow down growth of bacteria
• Shorter urethras in females are more prone to infections
• Eight million out of 350 million Americans get one every year
• One-fifth of women will have a UTI in their lifetime
• The most common occurrences is in the bladder
• Also called bladder infection
• Caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract from the urethra
  • Females: improper wiping
  • Males: tip of the penis not well cleaned
• Symptoms vary depending on the source of the infection
  • Painful urination
  • Cloudy urine
  • Frequent need to urinate
• Treatment options are usually antibiotics
• With treatment, the infection will clear up in about two weeks
• Sterile environments have no living bacteria present

Renal Failure

• Renal failure is the same as kidney failure
• Without working kidneys, one can live about seven days
• The filtering of the blood by the kidneys is either slowed or stopped
• Waste products build up in the blood

Acute Sudden Renal Failure

• Acute renal failure has a sudden but reversible onset
• Swelling typically lasts three days
• May be due to:
  • Bacterial infection
  • Injury
  • Shock
  • Heart failure
  • Poisoning
  • Drug overdose
• Treatment for acute renal failure may include dialysis or surgery

Chronic Renal Failure

• The kidneys gradually lose their ability to function over a period of time
• Chronic renal failure can come from diabetes or alcohol abuse
• If diagnosed early, it can be managed but not reversed
• A kidney transplant is usually required
• A kidney transplant needs a donor, but only one kidney is needed
• Dialysis involves machines removing wastes outside the body, because a person's kidneys are unable to

Kidney Stones

• Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like obstructions in the urinary tract
• Kidney stones are buildup of crystallized salts and minerals such as calcium in the urinary tract
• Kidney Stones are hard pebble substances created in the kidney and can get stuck in the urinary track
• Caused by
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections
  • Drinking too little fluid
  • A blockage of the urinary tract
• There are four basic treatments:
  • If small, pain medication and allowing it to pass on its own (must be less than 6 mm across)
  • If still in kidney, lithotripsy which incorporates powerful sound waves that vibrate stone apart
  • When using lithotripsy, even doctors protect their ears
  • If stuck in ureter, use laser blast with stint
  • If too massive, surgery is used to cut it out through the back
• Not knowing kidney stones are there until it moves or shows up on an x-ray
• Limited activity for several weeks
• Consuming too much calcium oxalate or uric acid in diet can cause kidney stones
• Consuming too much vitamin C or D can cause kidney stones
• Certain medications can cause kidney stones
• Certain metabolic diseases can cause kidney stones
• Treatment options include
  • Kidney stones usually pass through the urinary tract on their own
  • Surgical removal

Glomerulonephritis

• Glomerulonephritis is also called nephritis
• Glomerulo means glomerulus
• Nephr means nephron
• Itis means swelling
• Tiny filters in the kidney that help to clean the blood become inflamed or damaged
• A glomerulus is the globe-shaped part of the nephron that brings waste and good material to the nephron
• Loop of Henle puts good stuff back into blood
• Urine exits the loop of Henle into pyramids
• Causes include infection, certain drugs and cancer
• Unknown is the most often cause
• Swelling of the glomerulus makes the whole process not work well
• Treatment options include medications
• Glomerulonephritis may disappear on its own
• Untreated disease can slowly destroy the kidney
• Very treatable, often doesn't need treatment
• High blood pressure is symptom
• Excessive foaming of the urine
• Can cause loss of the kidney if not discovered
• Change in the color of the urine (to red or dark brown)
• Puffiness of the eyes, hands, and feet
• Vomiting
• Difficulty breathing
• Headaches